Strengthening community cohesion and opportunity in Bundaberg
Bundaberg Regional Council | Community Development Strategy | Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia | 2019
Credit: Taste Bundaberg Festival
Community Development Strategy guiding social wellbeing and cohesion
Multi-level engagement across government, service providers and community
Practical evaluation model to measure community development outcomes
Programs supporting health, inclusion and participation
The Challenge
Bundaberg Regional Council sought a Community Development Strategy that could harness the region’s strong community spirit while unlocking new social and economic opportunities. The Strategy needed to strengthen cohesion, improve wellbeing outcomes and guide programs that would support an inclusive and connected community.
Key challenges included
Understanding diverse community needs across the region
Reaching the under-represented community members
Identifying gaps in social participation and service access
Strengthening connections between community services and residents
Developing measurable outcomes for community development initiatives
Our Approach
Community cohesion and participation were central to our approach. We undertook a comprehensive engagement and research process to understand the lived experiences of residents and the role Council plays in strengthening connections across the community.
Our methodology included
Multi-level stakeholder engagement with government, service providers and community groups
Region-wide community engagement to identify needs, risks and opportunities
Local, regional, state and national landscape and alignment research
Development of a practical evaluation framework to measure outcomes
This evidence-led process informed a Community Development Strategy which was designed to address gaps, remove barriers and strengthen social outcomes.
Outcomes and Impact
Key Outcomes
Community Development Strategy 2020 - 2023 adopted and implemented
Clear framework for improving participation and community cohesion
Strengthened partnerships across service providers and community organisations
Programs and initiatives aligned to measurable wellbeing outcomes
Economic and Social Impact
Improved accessibility through initiatives such as beach wheelchair access mapping
Partnerships supporting employment pathways and community participation
Increased social inclusion and community engagement opportunities
Recognition for strengthening cohesion, participation and community harmony
These projects demonstrate how targeted infrastructure investment and experience activation can unlock regional growth, employment and sustainable tourism development.
